Water-Pipe Paste Composition

ABSTRACT

A paste for delivery of a flavoring in water-pipe smoke is disclosed herein. The disclosed paste is produced by mixing ingredients that include granules of an inert material, an absorbent-binder, a solvent, a mist-maker, and a flavoring. The paste is configured to release the flavoring and mist-maker when heated without melting of the paste.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to flavored products for garnishing or replacing tobacco in a water-pipe.

BACKGROUND

Due to health concerns and increasingly strict regulations, water-pipe smokers have developed a preference for tobacco substitutes or additives that produce cleaner and less toxic combustion products than tobacco itself or herbal additives. A popular class of substitutes come in the form of flavored gel formulations that are heated inside water-pipes together with or in the place of tobacco. However, commercially available gels tend to melt when heated, so they cannot be fitted inside capsules. A special bowl is also needed to contain the liquids formed when the gels melt and thus prevent spillages.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a paste for delivery of a flavoring in water-pipe smoke. The paste includes granules of an inert material, an absorbent-binder, a mist-maker, a sweetener, and a flavouring. The paste is configured to release the mist-maker, sweetener and flavoring when heated and does not melt when heated to a temperature below 250° C. The paste may also include a colorant. The paste may also include a stimulant. Example stimulants include caffeine, taurine, theobromine, and nicotine. The sweetener may be a carbohydrate sweetener. Example carbohydrate sweeteners include high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, glucose, sucrose, and maltose. The granules of the inert material may have an average diameter of at least 0.125 mm to at most 2 mm. Example granule materials include silica, limestone, gypsum, feldspar, magnetite, chlorite, glauconite, basalt, and obsidian. The silica may be in the form of quartz. Example absorbent-binders include fumed silica, amorphous silica, and talc. The paste may also include a solvent. Example solvents include aqueous solvents such as water either alone or combined with one or more water-miscible solvents, for example methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and glycol ether. Example mist-makers include glycerin, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, triethylene glycol, triacetin, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, inositol, isosorbide, and polydextrose. In an embodiment, the paste does not melt at a temperature below 300° C.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a product for delivery of a flavoring in water-pipe smoke. The method includes forming a paste from ingredients including granules of an inert material, an absorbent-binder, a mist-maker, a sweetener, and a flavoring, and storing the paste in a container. The paste is configured to release the flavoring, sweetener, and mist-maker when heated, and the paste does not melt when heated to a temperature where it releases the mist-maker, sweetener and flavoring. The container may be a squeezable tube, a capsule, a bottle, a screw-cap jar, or a bag. The ingredients may further include a colorant. The ingredients may further include a solvent. The ingredients may further include a stimulant. Example stimulants include caffeine, theobromine, taurine, and nicotine. The granules may have an average diameter of at least 0.125 mm to at most 2 mm. The material of the granules may be one or more of silica, limestone, gypsum, feldspar, magnetite, chlorite, glauconite, basalt, obsidian. The silica of the granules may be quartz.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of embodiments will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a squeezable tube containing a paste for garnishing or replacing tobacco in a water pipe.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a paste sample deposited from a squeezable tube onto a water pipe.

FIG. 3 is a viscosity vs. shear rate flow curve from a viscosimetric analysis of paste samples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions. As used in this description and the accompanying claims, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless the context otherwise requires:

A “granule diameter” or “granule size” is the length of the longest straight axis between two points on the surface of the granule.

A “paste” is a substance that behaves as a solid until a sufficiently large load or stress is applied, at which point it flows like a fluid. Pastes typically include a suspension of granular material in a background fluid.

A “gel” is a solid jelly-like material. Gels may be defined as a substantially dilute cross-linked system. By weight, gels are mostly liquid, yet they behave like solids due to a three-dimensional cross-linked network within the liquid. In this way gels are a dispersion of molecules of a liquid within a solid in which liquid particles are dispersed in the solid medium.

“Flavoring” or “flavorant” is a substance which alters or creates flavor for a product such as food, drink, or smoking composition that lacks a desired flavor or scent.

“Colorant” or “color additive” or “coloring” is a substance that is added or applied in order to change the color of a material. Colorants work by absorbing varying amounts of light at different wavelengths (or frequencies) of its spectrum, transmitting (if translucent) or reflecting the remaining light in straight lines or scattered. Most colorants can be classified as dyes or pigments, or containing some combination of these. Typical dyes are largely translucent, while pigments are made up of solid corpuscles and are partially or entirely opaque. These properties may change when other common ingredients such as binders and fillers are added. In addition, some colorants impart color through reactions with other substances. Colorants, or their constituent compounds, may be classified chemically as inorganic (often from a mineral source) and organic (often from a biological source).

Unless otherwise specified, the term “wt %” refers to the amount of a component of a paste or mixture, as expressed in percentage by weight.

Flavored Paste

In a first aspect, there is provided a paste for delivering a flavoring in water-pipe smoke. The paste can be packaged in soft, flexible packaging such as squeezable tubes that allow for more convenient use, less messiness, and easier setup. Unlike traditional gel-based tobacco substitutes, the paste is heat resistant and does not melt or lose shape when exposed to temperatures typically generated inside water-pipes. These attributes make the paste easy to handle and no special bowl is needed to prevent spillages. As such, any type of water-pipe bowl or capsule can be used. The paste can also be made free or substantially free of combustible substance, thereby preventing the formation of toxic combustion products that typically form from the burning combustible materials like tobacco leaves. Different colorants and flavourings can be included to obtain an assortment of pastes to suit all types of consumer preferences.

Granular Material

In preferred embodiments, the paste includes granules that are made of a material that is chemically inert and that does not melt or degrade at temperatures equal to or below those at which tobacco or its substitutes are typically heated inside water-pipes. As such, the granules can be part of a paste that does not melt at a temperature below 250° C. In some embodiments, the paste does not melt at a temperature below 300° C., or below 350° C., or below 400° C. The presence of the granules may also confer a glittery appearance to the paste. Preferably, the average particle size of the granules is such that the material has a sandy consistency and does not form suspensions in the air in the manner of finer particulates such as powders and dust. In an embodiment, the average diameter of the granules is from 0.0625 mm to 2 mm. In another embodiment, the average diameter of the granules is in the range from at least about 0.125 mm to at most about 2 mm.

Exemplary granular materials include rock and mineral sand. The chemical composition of sand varies depending on the source and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand is silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO2), usually in the form of quartz. Other varieties of sand include minerals such as limestone (CaCO3), gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O), feldspar (tectosilicate minerals), magnetite (Fe3O4), chlorite ((Mg,Fe)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(OH)₂.(Mg,Fe)₃(OH)₆), glauconite ((K,Na)(Fe³⁺,Al,Mg)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(OH)₂), sands derived from volcanic basalts and obsidian. Sand is commonly divided into five sub-categories based on average granule diameter ranges: very fine (0.0625 to 0.125 mm); fine (0.125 to 0.250 mm); coarse (0.250 to 0.5 mm); and very coarse (0.5 to 2 mm). Sand of any one or more of such sub-categories may be suitable as ingredient for the paste of the present application, depending on the other ingredients and that the product paste perform satisfactorily at temperatures typical for water-pipe smoking compositions.

Other Ingredients

Combined with the granular material are an absorbent-binder, a sweetener, a mist-maker, and a flavoring. When heated to temperatures suitable for generating smoke in a water-pipe, the paste releases the mist-maker, sweetener, and flavoring into the smoke generated by the water-pipe without melting. In some embodiments, the paste releases the mist-maker, sweetener, and flavoring and degrades into a dry residue rather than melting when exposed to temperatures typical of water-pipes. In instances where melting or partial melting of the paste does occur, it only takes place after heating-induced release of the mist-maker, sweetener, and flavoring has begun. Without being bound to any particular theory, it is believed that the absorbent-binder stabilizes the paste likely by binding the granules to the other components of the paste and by absorbing liquids that may be present in the ingredients from which the paste is prepared. This results in the formation of a blend that is free of fluid residues such as liquids or syrups and is also resistant to heat, as opposed to gels that melt when heated due to their inherently less stable structure.

(i) Absorbent-binder. In representative embodiments the absorbent-binder is a powdery substance made of particles characterized by finer grain size than the granular material, resulting in a high specific surface area. In an embodiment, the absorbent-binder particles have an average diameter of about 2.5 to 100 μm. In a further embodiment, the absorbent-binder particles have an average diameter of about 5 μm to about 60 μm. In one embodiment, the absorbent-binder is fumed silica, a powdery substance also known as pyrogenic silica that is made of primary particles of amorphous silica fused into branched, chainlike, three-dimensional secondary beads which then agglomerate into tertiary beads. Again, without wishing to be bound to any particular theory, it is believed that the three-dimensional structure and high surface area of fumed silica render it an excellent absorbent-binder for forming the paste. Typical BET specific surface areas of fumed silica range from 50 to 400 m2/g. Other example absorbent-binders include amorphous silica powder, talc powder and other powdery materials.

(ii) Mist-maker. When heated, the mist-maker forms a thick steam that is similar in appearance to tobacco smoke. Typical mist-maker that have found use in water-pipes include polyols such as glycerin, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, triethylene glycol, triacetin, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, inositol, isosorbide, polydextrose, dianhydro-D-glucitol, and mixtures of any two or more of the above.

(iii) Sweetener. Examples of sweeteners which may find use as ingredients for the paste include carbohydrate sweeteners, for example monosaccharides of 5 or 6 carbon atoms, such as arabinose, xylose, ribose, glucose, mannose, galactose, fructose, dextrose, or sorbose, or mixtures of two or more of the foregoing monosaccharides; disaccharides, for example, sucrose, such as cane or beet sugar, lactose, maltose or cellobiose; polysaccharides, such as partially hydrolyzed starch or dextrin, as well as polyols, such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, mixtures thereof and mixtures with one or more of the above sugars. In some embodiments, the sweetener is high-fructose corn syrup, also known as glucose-fructose, isoglucose and glucose-fructose syrup, which is prepared by enzymatically breaking down corn starch into glucose and further processing with glucose isomerase to convert some of the glucose into fructose. Example artificial sweeteners include sodium, calcium or ammonium saccharin salts, dihydrochalcones, rebaudiosides, mogrosides, glycyrrhizin, dipotassium glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid ammonium salt, L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, (aspartame), the sodium or potassium salt of 3,4-dihydro-6-methyl-1,2,3-oxathiazine-4-one-2,2-dioxide (Ace-sulfame-K), as well as extracts of Stevia rebaudiana (Stevioside), Richardella dulcifica (Miracle Berry), Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Serendipity Berry), and mixtures of any two or more of the above.

(iv) Flavoring. Suitable flavors or flavorings include, but are not limited to, mint, such as peppermint and spearmint, chocolate, licorice, citrus and other fruit flavors, gamma octalactone, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, breath freshener flavors, spice flavors such as cinnamon, methyl salicylate, linalool, bergamot oil, geranium oil, lemon oil, and ginger oil. Other suitable flavors may include flavor compounds selected from the group consisting of an acid, an alcohol, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a pyrazine, combinations or blends thereof and the like.

(v) Stimulant. In addition to the ingredients above, the paste may include one or more substances having a stimulatory effect on the central nervous system and inducing alertness in a subject. Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine), taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), and theobromine (3,7-dimethylxanthine) and their derivatives are the most common stimulants that may be used in addition to or instead of nicotine, but other substances amenable to delivery through inhalation in the form of water-pipe smoke, for example extracts of plants such as guarana or ginseng, are also contemplated.

(v) Colorant. To provide a colorful, desirable appearance, the paste may include one or a blend of colorant additives preferably chosen from among those listed as suitable and safe for use in foods, drugs, or cosmetics. Example useful dyes include water-soluble colorants of plant origin, including beet juice, brazilwood, caramel, carminic acid, litmus, logwood, orchil, and saffron, but artificial colorants that are safe for use in water-pipe smoking applications are also contemplated.

Although the relative amount of each component may substantially vary depending on the desired properties of the final product, in representative embodiments the granules account for about 5 to about 25 wt % of the overall weight of the paste while the amount of absorbent-binder is from about 5 to about 20 wt %. The pastes of the representative embodiments also include from about 20 to about 70 wt % mist-maker, from about 15 to about 35 wt % carbohydrate sweetener, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % flavoring, and about 0.01 to about 0.05 wt % colorant.

Manufacturing the Paste and Related Products

In a second aspect, there is provided a method of manufacturing the paste and products for its delivery to consumers. The ingredients of the paste, including the granules of an inert material, absorbent-binder, sweetener, and flavoring are mixed together and then stored in a container. The ingredients may also include additives, for example a colorant and one or more stimulants. In some instances, one or more solvents may also be present, for example when one or more ingredients are added to the mixture in the form of liquid solutions. When advantageous, for example to promote the formation of a uniform and homogeneous paste, aliquots of a pure solvent or of a combination of solvents may be added while the mixture is being formed or subjected to further steps, such as kneading or packing in the container.

In one embodiment, the ingredients are blended together at room temperature, although mild heating may be applied when it is conducive to better or quicker mixing. Excessive amounts of solvent that may render the paste wet or syrupy to the touch may be removed by standards methods such as exposure to an airflow. Advantageously, the gel may be stored in soft, flexible packaging and dispensing pumps for more convenient, less messiness and easier setup than traditional gels. FIG. 1 illustrates an example squeezable tube (100) in which the paste may be stored, but the container may also be a capsule, bag, pouch, bottle or screw-cap jar. At the time of use, the paste (102) is squeezed from the tube onto the bowl of a water-pipe, as exemplified in the illustration of FIG. 2. No special bowl is required because the paste is stable when heated and maintains its structure. The paste is thus suitable for any type of water-pipe bowl (200) or capsule.

Example

A number of pastes were formed by blending ingredients at room temperature in relative amounts within the ranges listed in Table 1, as follows:

TABLE 1 INGREDIENT AMOUNT (wt %) High-Fructose Corn Syrup 20-25%  Colorant 0.01-0.02%   Glycerin 50-55%  Flavoring 1-10% Fumed Silica 5-10% Silica Sand 7-10% Additives 0.2-0.4% 

The glycerin of the pastes had a specific gravity of 1.2612 g/ml at 25° C., a maximum moisture content of 0.3% and a minimum glycerin content of 99.7%. The fumed silica was characterized by a pH of 3.8 to 4.3, a BET surface area of 175-225 m²/g, and a tamped density of 60 g/L. The high-fructose corn syrup was characterized by a pH of 3.3 to 4.5, an acidity of max 4 ml, a dry substance content of 76.8 to 77.4%, and a refractive index of 1.4774-1.4798 at 20° C. The color of the fructose scored a maximum of 20 on the ICUMSA (International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis) grading system. The fructose content of the aqueous solution was measured to be between 74.80 and 75.80 on the degrees Brix (°Bx) scale.

Samples of each paste were tested by heating to temperatures of about 300° C. in a water-pipe. In all instances, the paste maintained its shape and did not melt when heated, and when subjected to air suction it released an aerosol containing fructose, glycerin, and the flavoring.

Next, samples of one of the pastes were analyzed by rotational viscosimetry on a TA Instruments DHR1 rheometer. The composition of the tested paste is reported in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Composition of Tested Paste Components wt % Fructose  25% Colorant 0.015%  Glycerin 52.3%  Flavor  5% Fumed Silica  9% Silica Sand 8.5% Additives 0.2%

First, the rheometer was verified with an ASTM N15000 oil (41.1 Pa·s at 25° C.) that was chosen as standard because of its having a similar viscosity to the samples. On each day of analysis, the instrument setup was successfully verified with the standard oil and a 25 mm plate-plate geometry, deviating less than 4% from the certified viscosity of the standard oil.

The viscosity of the paste samples was measured in the course of shear rate sweeps carried out at 25.0° C. in a 25 mm plate-plate geometry with a gap of 1 mm. The shear ramp included shear rates of 10, 18.8, 32.6, 56.9, and 100 s⁻¹, respectively. The analysis was completed in duplicate, and the results are reported in Table 3 and plotted in FIG. 3.

TABLE 3 Shear rate Viscosity Viscosity Viscosity (s⁻¹) (Pa · s) run 1 (Pa · s) run 2 (Pa · s) 10.00 908.58 855.17 881.88 18.80 300.30 330.66 315.48 32.60 158.18 173.03 165.60 56.90 84.10 99.85 91.98 100.00 50.67 52.57 51.62

As seen in Table 3 and FIG. 3, the samples proved to be shear-thinning and non-Newtonian fluids. This property helps the paste flow more easily during application but stay in place once it is applied. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A paste for delivery of a flavoring in water-pipe smoke, the paste comprising: (a) granules of an inert material; (b) an absorbent-binder; (c) a mist-maker; (d) a sweetener, and (e) a flavoring, wherein: the paste is configured to release the mist-maker, sweetener, and flavoring when heated, and the paste does not melt when heated to a temperature below 250° C.
 2. The paste according to claim 1, further comprising a colorant.
 3. The paste according to claim 1, further comprising a stimulant.
 4. The paste according to claim 3, wherein the stimulant is selected from the group consisting of caffeine, taurine, theobromine, nicotine, and combinations thereof.
 5. The paste according to claim 1, wherein the sweetener is a carbohydrate sweetener.
 6. The paste according to claim 5, wherein the carbohydrate sweetener is selected from the group consisting of high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, and combinations thereof.
 7. The paste according to claim 1, wherein the granules have an average diameter of at least 0.125 mm to at most 2 mm.
 8. The paste according to claim 1, wherein the granules include a material selected from the group consisting of silica, limestone, gypsum, feldspar, magnetite, chlorite, glauconite, basalt, obsidian, and combinations thereof.
 9. The paste according to claim 1, wherein the material of the granules is quartz.
 10. The paste according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent-binder is selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, amorphous silica, talc, and combinations thereof.
 11. The paste according to claim 1, further comprising a solvent.
 12. The paste according to claim 11, wherein the solvent comprises water and optionally a water-miscible solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, glycol ether, and combinations thereof.
 13. The paste according to claim 1, wherein the mist-maker is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 1,2,4-butanetriol, triethylene glycol, triacetin, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, inositol, isosorbide, polydextrose, and combinations thereof.
 14. The paste according to claim 1, wherein the paste does not melt at a temperature below 300° C.
 15. A water-pipe comprising the paste according to claim
 1. 16. A method of manufacturing a product for delivery of a flavoring in water-pipe smoke, the method comprising: forming a paste from ingredients comprising: granules of an inert material; an absorbent-binder; a mist-maker, a sweetener, and a flavoring, and storing the paste in a container, wherein: the paste is configured to release the mist-maker, flavoring, and sweetener when heated, and the paste does not melt when heated to a temperature where the paste releases the mist-maker, sweetener, and flavoring.
 17. The method of manufacturing a product according to claim 16, wherein the granules include a material selected from the group consisting of silica, limestone, gypsum, feldspar, magnetite, chlorite, glauconite, basalt, obsidian, and combinations thereof.
 18. The method of manufacturing a product according to claim 16, wherein the material of the granules is quartz.
 19. The method of manufacturing a product according to claim 16, wherein the granules have an average diameter of at least 0.125 mm to at most 2 mm.
 20. The method of manufacturing a product according to claim 16, wherein the ingredients further comprise a solvent. 